Wire-clamp.



G. B. LEWIS.

IWIRECLAMP. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, |917.

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Patented June 4, 1918,

INVENTOR GaZBLewzs WITNESSES ATTORNEY GAIL B. LEWIS, OF NOTUS, IDAHO.

WIRE-CLAMP.

Application filed May 28, 1917.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GArL B. LEWIS, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Notus, in the county of Canyon and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVireCl-amps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wire clamps to be used inl stretching wire.

The primary obj ect of the invention is to provide a clamp of this character which may be effectively engaged with the wire strands and will eXert an even strain upon each strand of wire when the clamp is pulled to perform t-he stretching operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a wire clamp which is particularly adapted for stretching wire fabric that is generally used for fences, in a quick and efficient manner and which may be readily detached from the wire. y

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wire clamp which embodies a pair of clamping bars which are held in clamped engagement with the wire by a novel and eiiicient latch.

It is another object to provide a construction of this character which consists of few operating parts and which are easily assembled, and is durable and eflicient and may be placed on the market at a minimum cost.

The above general objects together with others will be fully discussed in the following description and the inventive features explicitly set forth in the appended claims.

The invention consists of details of constructions, assemblages and general arrangements and operations which will be hereinafter set forth, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a length of fabric wire being stretched; my invention being shown in operative position on the wire.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved wire clamp.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the same, the latch being shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the clamping bars; the. clamping bars being shown in clamped position upon the wire.

Fig. 5v is a sectional view through the clamping bars and showing the pins and openings which receive the same; the clamp- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1918.

Serial No. 171,535.

ing bars being shown disengaged from the wire, and

Fig. 6 is a. perspective of the upper end of one of the clamping bars.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate likeparts in'all the views the numerals 5 and 6 indicate a pair of longitudinal clamping bars which are preferably formed of metal and are formed with hinged members 7 at their lower ends. These hinge members 7 are hingedly connected together by a pin 8.

Secured to the inner face of each of these clamping bars 5 and 6 are longitudinal bars 9 and 10. These bars 9 and 10 are preferably formed of wood but however any desired material may be used. These bars are secured in position by means of transverse bolts 11 which have their heads countersunk in these bars 11 and 10 and which eX- tend through the clamping bars 5 and 6 and have nuts l2 threaded upon their outer ends.

The bar 9 is provided with a longitudinal tongue 13 which extends the entire length of this bar 9 and is located centrally of its longitudinal edges. This tongue 13 is adapted to be received in a longitudinal groove 14 formed in the bar 11 and which extends the entire, length thereof and like the tongue 13 it is disposed centrally of the longitudinal edges of this bar 10. The tongue 13 is adapted to be engaged with the wire fabric and force the same in the longitudinal groove 14 and bindingly engaged therein and also with the abutting faces of these bars 9 and 10. This is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

Carried by the clamping bar 5 and extending transversely through the tongue 13 is a plurality of pins 15 that are receivable in alined openings 16 at the base of the groove 14. These pins will prevent the bars 5 and 6 from shifting with respect to each other and engaged in the vertical strand of the wire fabric.

In order to lock the bars 5 and 6 into clamped engagement with the wire fabric I have provided a novel locking arrangement which consists of a latch member formed from a longitudinal rod 17 which is bent and extended outwardly as at 18. This latch or rod 17 is pivotally mounted in the bearings 19 at the beginning of the bend 18. From the outer end of the bend 18 the rod is extended downwardly and provided with a hook 19 which is engaged in a keeper or eye 20. This keeper or eye 20 retains the latch against movement in one direction While a flexible element 21 carried by a bolt 22 mounted in the clamping bar is engaged With this latch 1.7 and retains it against l movement in the opposite direction.

in the appended claims.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a clamp of the character described a,

`pair of pivoted members adapted for clamping engagement with Wire strands, a latch pivotally mounted on one of the members and having its ends offset from each other,

a hook formed upon the lower end of said latch, an eye also mounted on this clamping member and loosely receiving the hook end of the latch, and a flexible elementcarried p by one of said clamping members and. operatively engaged with the upper 'end of the latch.

2. A Wire clamp, including a pair of metallic clamping bars pivotally secured together at one end, an eye bolt carried by the free end of one of said bars and adapted to project through the free end of the other bar, a lever pivotally connected to said last mentioned bar, and means for fastening the eye bolt to the lever. l

3. Al Wire clamp, including a pair of clamping bars pivotally secured together at one end, an eye bolt carried by th-e Jfree endv of one of said bars and adapted to extend through an opening in the reeend of the other bar, a lever pivotally secured to said last mentioned bar, a hook formed on the lower end of the lever, a retaining eye adapted to receive said hook, and a chain carried by the eye bolt and adapted to be engaged with the upper end of the lever.

y In testimony whereof I a'HiX my signature in presence of tvvo Witnesses.

GAIL B. LEWIS.

Witnesses: Y

JOHN W. SoARBoRoUGH', J oHN H. HENRY.

i( Copies of this patent' maybe obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,-

Washington, D. C. 

